Tobacco-cleaning apparatus.



L. F. BANNON. TOBACCO CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Ammo. ma.-

)Patented. Apr. 22, 1919.

woman A mar s as an errant.

LAURENCE F. BANNON, 0F KINGSTON, NEW YORK.

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To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, LAURENGE F. BANNON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingston, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented new and useful v all extraneous substances, such as stones,

nails, etc., which become mixed with the tobacco while the latter is in bulk.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine in which afan is employed for forcing the tobacco upward through a conveyer pipe, a baflie being positioned with in a horizontal-stretch. of the pipe adjacent thefan, so that substances heavier than the tobacco will be forced into contact with the battle and their progress stopped, when they may be easily removed through a convenient opening. a a i A further object of the invention is to provide means for sorting the tobacco leaves, the leaves being forced into a vertical stretch of the conveyer, rising upward a short distance due to the momentum imparted by the fan, when the heavier leaves will fall backward and escape through a discharge spout into a suitable receptacle, the lighter leaves will pass upward into a separating drum, the weight of these leaves causing them to fall within the drum where they may be deposited within a suitable receptacle, while the chaff and dust is blown upward and outward through a passage in the top of the drum.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a tobacco sorting and cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical sectional view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 2 through the fan casing.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention includes a rotary blower or fan, the casing 10 of which is provided with an inlet opening 11 with a chute 1.2 extending therefrom so as to pro- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

TOBACCO-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Patented ilrpr. 2%, 11919.

Application filed Au'gust so, 1918. serial No. 252,041.

ride for conveniently passing the tobacco leaves through the opening. The blades of the fan 13 are mounted in suitable members within the casing 10, the latter having communicating therewith one end of a conveyer pipe 14, the pipe .14 being of right angular formation, the horizontal stretch of which having positioned therein a bafile 15, the latter having one end secured to the pipe 14 adjacent the casing lO and its other end terminating within the said pipe to form a restricted passage 16. The bafile 15 is for the purpose of presenting an obstruction to the passage .of stones, nails or other extraneous articles of substances which may become mixed with the tobacco, the said stones or nails contacting with the bafiie 15 and dropping them in the bottom of the conveyer pipe 14 from where they may be removed through a convenient opening 17, provided with a removable closure 18.

The vertical portion of the conveyer pipe 14 enters the vertical stretch of a relatively large conveyer pipe 19, being eccentrically positioned with respect to the latter pipe so as to form a discharge chute 20'. The chute 20 is provided with a lip 21 which'is positioned above the receptacle 22, so that the leaves or other particles or tobacco blown upward through the conveyer, will pass from the small pipe 14 into the vertical stretch of the large pipe 19, the larger leaves or pieces passing to one side or out of the path of the conveyer by air from the fan and will drop into the discharge chute 20 and be directed by the extension 21 into the re ceptacle 22.

The smaller pieces or particles will continue upward to the vertical stretch of the pipe 19 and pass into the horizontal stretch 23 of this pipe and enter a separating drum 24. The drum 24 is formed with a tapered bottom 25, which terminates in a restricted outlet pipe 26, controlled by a valve 27 the latter being positioned above a receptacle 28. The horizontal stretch of the pipe 19 enters. the drum 24 at one side and near the top of the said drum, while the latter is provided in the top wall thereof with a. discharge opening 29, which is surrounded by a discharge pipe 30.

The outer end of the discharge pipe 30 communicates with the top of a receptacle 31, which is provided with a door 32 by means of which access is had to the interior of the receptacle. The receptacle 31 is also provided with a discharge spout 33 so as to permit of the escape of air in order that a circulation through the pipe 30 may be maintained. The interior of the receptacle 31 is provided with an inclined baffle plate 34, disposed directly below the discharge spout 33 to prevent the passage of fine tobacco and dust therethrough, which is Valuable for the manufacture of snuff.

Tobacco entering the drum 24 from the pipe 19 will fall downward and be discharged through the valve 27, which is normally closed, while the chaff and dust or other like particles will be directed upward and outward through the discharge pipe 30 and enter the receptacle 33.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides an exceedingly simple and eflicient means for sorting tobacco and separating therefrom all foreign substances of matter, different grades or sizes of the leaves being deposited into different receptacles.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is reserved to make such changes.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is r 1. A sorting and separating machine embodying a rotary fan or blower, a conveyer pipe having one end communicating therewith, a baflie located in said pipe adjacent said fan or blower, a separating drum communicating with the opposite end of said pipe, a valve controlled opening in the bottom of said drum, a discharge opening in the top of the drum above the conveyor pipe and a discharge spout located in the conveyer pipe between the baffle and the drum.

2. A sorting and separating machine embodying a rotary fan or blower, a conveyer pipe formed of pipes of different diameters telescopically connected and having one end communicating with the blower, a bafile located in said pipe adjacent said fan or blower, a separating drum communicating with the opposite end of said pipe, a valve controlled opening in the bottom of said drum, and a discharge spout formed within the conveyor pipe at the telescopic connec tion of the sections.

A sorting and separating "machine embodying a rotary fanor blower, a-conveyer pipe having one end communicating there with, a baflie located in said pipe adjacent said fan or blower, a conveyer-pipe of relatively large diameter positioned over the first mentioned pipe and disposed concern trica'l'ly thereto and flared to provide a dis-- charge chute, a separating drum communicating with the opposite end of said pipe, a valve controlled opening in the bottom of the drum and a discharge opening in the top of the drum above the conveyor pipe.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LAURENCE F. BANNON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

